Light It On Fire
Note: While the people in this blog are fictitious, the struggles they have represent real feelings that many ex-convicts have battled with. Barry had been out of prison for two months. He had managed to get a job at a…
James Burch
I am a Christian who is trying to be a light in a sin-darkened world.
A Mosaic of Ex-Convicts
A photo mosaic is a large image made up of hundreds or thousands of smaller pictures. From far away, you see one main picture. Up close, the smaller photos act as “tiles.” [1] A conglomeration of humans is something like…
The Dangers of Sexual Sin
Before I get started, just letting you readers know that I realize not all of you are Christians. In fact, if you are the average person who is not a Christian, especially if you are young and your hormones are…
The Musings of an Ex-Convict: What Gives Me Hope?
When I am outside, whether driving somewhere or just out in the yard, I take the time to enjoy the beauty of nature. Even in winter, when the grass is dormant and only the evergreen trees are green, the land…
Common Threads
In all the time I spent in prison I heard of riots occurring occasionally, though none ever happened during the time that I was at any facility. In fact, unity among inmates was rare. Occasionally we got together to stand…
Success & Hindrances To Success After Prison
Barry sat at a table in the restaurant, filling out a rather lengthy job application. Fresh off a seven-year stint in prison with 10 years of probation to serve, he had to find a job. Not only did he need…
Mistakes I Made as a Returning Citizen & How I Got On Track
You all know me as James by my blogs or as Jimmy by our podcasts. Jimmy is the name most people call me because that’s what I’ve been called all my life and it’s less formal than James. Anyway, you…
Same Mission – Broader Scope
Since the beginning of Beyond the Label in 2024, we have dealt exclusively with the concerns and issues of registered citizens. We have not abandoned this God-given directive. However, as 2025 drew to a close, It Ain’t Over Ministries was…
An Appeal To Employers & Renters On Behalf Of R.S.O.’s
Most people have to work. There are not a lot of individuals outside of retirement age who have adequate financial support from family members, and even a number of retirees struggle to make ends meet. It is equally true that…
Christian Compassion for Registered Citizens
In a couple of our earlier blogs and podcasts we addressed the issues RSOs face when wanting to attend or join a church. To review quickly, one of the obstacles to us attending or joining is, well, our criminal history…